Big East and C-USA: It Might Be Time to Shift More Teams

After being routed by West Virginia tonight, the Blue Demons are 8-22. But more importantly, they have lost each of their 17 Big East games. This has been, by far, their worst season since switching from Conference USA in 2005.

In a league like the Big East, every team should be able to compete with the rest of the conference. Sure, the league is extremely powerful this season, but losing every game is simply unacceptable.

I think the Big East made a mistake. They should not have admitted DePaul as the fifth team in the Realignment of 2005.

Memphis would have been a better choice.

They are rolling over Conference USA, they are ranked fifth in the AP Poll and third in the ESPN Poll, and they have beaten a number of solid teams en route to what is now a 27-3 record.

The record is obviously impressive, yet multiple writers have claimed that Memphis is overrated—an opinion that I happen to agree with.

It's definitely possible that the Tigers are the No. 5 team in the nation. The problem is that they have not played top competition in Conference USA. This is a recurring problem for the Memphis basketball program because they are above and beyond their conference.

As a response, John Calipari has done a decent job of bolstering their non-conference schedule. However, the argument that Memphis would falter against a consistently strong schedule is a valid one.

How would they fare if they had to play at Pitt on Wednesday and then at Louisville on Saturday?

We'll never know until they get the chance.

It's not too late to make another change, as long as both teams are willing. DePaul would stand a chance against Conference USA competition. Memphis would have a chance to prove that they are one of the premier teams in the nation while playing in the Big East.